The decimation of the 1100 Block of Delaware St. East side of block

Next time you are cruising north at lightning speed (there doesn’t seem to be any other at which people travel on Delaware Street) and either jump onto the 70E/ 65S entrance or continue under the highway overpass, please take a moment to consider all the regal mansions that gave way for our city’s “progress.”

At least the Fishback House is still standing at 1101 North Delaware. I am stunned every time I hear that someone doesn’t notice this gorgeous mansion, impeccably restored, keeping watch and bidding adieu to the thousands of east or southbound travelers.

Should you continue in a northerly direction, perhaps you may take a moment to reflect on this: on the east side of the street, there were 5 large lots after the Fishback House and before the Indianapolis Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses on the northeast corner of 12th & Delaware, built in 1912 for The Second Church of Christ Scientist (by Solon Spencer Bemen).

The next property north of the Fishback Mansion was the home of the James F. Failey family (at 1105, later 1109 N. Delaware). North of the Faileys was the one-time home of John T. Dye, the father of famed teacher and school namesake, Charity Dye (at 1109, later 1119 N. Delaware). Incidentally, John T. Dye assisted the prosecutor in the famous “Cold Springs Murder” case alongside Benjamin Harrison and William Fishback–how interesting that they all lived within a block of each other.

Walter Marmon

After the Dyes left, the Walter C. Marmon family (son of Daniel Marmon, co-owner of Marmon & Nordyke cars) lived there for many years. Daniel Marmon, incidentally just over a block south at 970 North Delaware Street.

Daniel Marmon

Former Daniel Marmon Home at 970 N. Delaware Street, Now the University Club

At 1125 (formerly 1111) N. Delaware, Charles W. Merrill, yes of the Bobbs-Merrill Company and Hollenbeck Press resided for many years. Someday I will find photos of these missing pieces…

Next, at 1131 (formerly 1115) North Delaware was the home of Christopher Rafert, one of the early developers of the area, he being an early Indianapolis contractor. (More on Rafert’s hand in the area in a future blog post)

Rafert Home, with deepest thanks to Stewart Rafert

Rafert’s Business card, again thanks with thanks to Stewart Rafert

A later addition to the home when it was made into a clubhouse, before it was destroyed for the highway

Addison Nordyke

Finally, the Addison H. Nordyke home rounded out the block at 1141 (formerly 1117) North Delaware. The architect was Charles Augustus Wallingford and it was built circa 1883.

Formerly stood at the southeast corner of 12th and Delaware

2nd view of the Nordyke home

This home had already been replaced by the time the highway came plowing through, having made way in 1930 for the office building for the Journeymens Barbers Union of America.

We can look back on the west side of the street in an upcoming blog post…until then, I hope you look upon this block of Delaware with a new set of eyes…